“This was a $75,000 operation and our MATS officers spent a lot of time working on the case before getting enough evidence to arrest the individuals who were involved,” Wickersham said while discussing MATS’ success with a group of well-wishers including Oakland County Undersheriff Michael McCabe, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade, State Sen. Steve Bieda and Terri Miller, executive director of HEAT.

“I am proud of the relentless efforts these officers displayed in getting these criminals off the streets. We’re very proud of them.”

Miller said HEAT consists of plainclothes officers from all over southeastern Michigan. She said MATS officers put considerable time in to close down the chop shop that was operating out of an abandoned building in Macomb County. She said the group stole the vehicles and sold the parts on Craig’s List.

Miller said anti-theft squads such as MATS are putting the heat on criminals. She said people have to help police by calling HEAT and their local police if they see something suspicious going on. She said HEAT offers several thousand dollars in rewards to people who provide information about stolen vehicles, insurance fraud, larcenies from autos, etc.

McQuade said organizations such as HEAT and MATS are incredible to work with. She said as police department budgets shrink, law enforcement needs help from the general public.

“Police departments aren’t as large as they once were,” said McQuade, a graduate of Sterling Heights High School. “People have to be the eyes and ears of police, and organizations like HEAT that offer rewards for tips are very important.”

Miller said new vehicles are becoming harder than ever to steal and that is why thieves now are stealing components from cars such as tires, rims, lift gates from pickup trucks and catalytic converters.

HEAT directly works with police to follow-up on tips and offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of car thieves or people suspected of auto theft-related insurance fraud.

HEAT also gives $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of a carjacking suspect, and tips resulting in the arrest of a suspected theft ring or chop-shop operators can reach $10,000.